FEMA cancels all in-person NFA training amid funding review

The agency is reportedly evaluating programs and spending to ensure alignment with Administration priorities

March 10, 2025 08:53 AM •

EMMITSBURG, Md. — FEMA announced Friday that all in-person training offered by the National Fire Academy is canceled, effective immediately, until further notice.

According to a notice sent to instructors, students and fire departments, FEMA is in the process of evaluating agency programs and spending to ensure alignment with Administration priorities.

The notice stated: “For those courses that can continue virtually, we will do so, and you will receive more information soon. For those that are unable to proceed in a virtual format we will reevaluate rescheduling of courses once the review is complete.” A follow-up notice to instructors clarified that, “only virtual offerings that do not have an instructor and no funds are involved will be held. Please cancel all future travel until further notice.”

Impact on EMS training

The cancellation of in-person courses also affects EMS-focused training programs offered by the NFA, including courses on EMS quality management, incident response to terrorist bombings and leadership in EMS organizations. These programs, designed to enhance operational effectiveness and emergency response capabilities, provide critical education for EMS personnel across the country.

While some of these courses may transition to a virtual format, others that require hands-on instruction — such as those focused on mass casualty incident management and community risk reduction for EMS — could be postponed until further notice.

Fire service reaction

FireRescue1 Senior Fire Advisor Chief Marc Bashoor shared his response to the news as well as guidance for fire departments and NFA students:

“I can only hope this is a temporary setback that will be followed with a restart of all the valuable programs offered by the NFA. It is more important than ever that you communicate with your elected officials about the effectiveness of NFA programs. It is critical that we continue to train at all levels locally as we navigate temporary or permanent changes occurring at the National Fire Academy. We must not allow these changes to translate into chaos in our training or in our performance of duty. Our mission of service remains the same, whether our training mission is supported by the federal government or not. Furthermore, I have no idea why anybody would think that the NFA programs would not align with the administration’s priorities. This is all about public safety, and the president has indicated he supports public safety ardently, so I’m not sure what the NFA would not be supporting in the public safety mission.”

Bashoor also shared the following with the Associated Press:

“The NFA is a powerhouse for the fire service. It’s not a ‘nice to have.’ It is the one avenue we have to bring people from all over the country to learn from and with each other. If we want to continue to have one of the premier fire services in the world, we need to have the National Fire Academy.”

Bashoor said the NFA was set to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training next week.

“People had made their plane and travel reservations. And all of a sudden, they get an email that ‘Sorry, it’s been canceled,’” he said. “It’s really upsetting.”

The academy, which also houses the National Fallen Firefighter’s Memorial, opened in 1973 to combat a growing number of fatal fires nationwide, per the Associated Press. At the time, the National Commission on Fire Prevention and Control envisioned it to be the ‘West Point of the Fire Service,’ according to a report form the organization.

EMS1 has reached out to the FEMA press office for a comment.

Email questions to FEMA.

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Michael Fraley, BS, BA, NRP